Mark Winterbottom has set the fastest time of the day so far in Practice 4 ahead of what promises to be a gripping qualifying session at the Clipsal 500.

The Ford Performance Racing Falcon driver jumped to the top of the order after the chequered flag fell, eclipsing previous fast-man Shane van Gisbergen by 0.05s.

Will Davison, Jonathon Webb and Jamie Whincup completed the top five having all spent time at the top of the sheets during the final minutes.

Alex Premat was sixth in his Fujitsu Racing Holden, just 0.01s adrift of second-placed Van Gisbergen.

Premat’s team-mate Scott McLaughlin was seventh ahead of Fabian Coulthard, David Reynolds and Russell Ingall.

Coulthard had sat atop the order in his Lockwood Holden prior to the typically late flurry of quick times. The Kiwi was garage bound for the final minutes however as his Brad Jones Racing crew undertook a length set-up change ahead of qualifying.

Craig Lowndes managed just four flying laps in Practice 4 on his way to 11th, with his session punctuated by long set-up changes and an unscheduled trip to the pits to assess damage from a strike against the Turn 1 tyre bundle.

It was Todd Kelly’s turn to be fastest of the four Nissans in 15th – one place ahead of Lee Holdsworth in the quickest of the Erebus Mercedes entries. Both drivers were less than a second away from Winterbottom’s pace.

Winterbottom was less than happy with his car at the end of the session, despite clocking the fastest time.

“I’m happy we’re going in the right direction but it still needs to be tuned up,” said Winterbottom, whose car escaped without damage from a rare half-spin at the exit of Turn 6 early in the session.

“The sessions are so tight back-to-back today and the changes on these cars take twice as long as they used to (mainly due to the lack of quick rear-roll centre adjustment capability with the independent rear suspension). It’s all pretty hectic today.”

Qualifying for Race 1 of the 2013 V8 Supercars Championship will kick-off at 1505 local time ahead of a Top 10 Shootout at 1610.

See below for the full Practice 4 result

See below for Speedcafe.com’s Clipsal 500 Adelaide Race Guide